David Ferrer overcomes Jeremy Chardy in straight sets

David Ferrer has advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open thanks to a three-set victory over Jeremy Chardy.

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It took 34 minutes for the Spaniard to wrap up the first set 6-2, but the Frenchman broke serve in the second as he sought to get back on level terms.

After fending off five set points, the world number three broke back to force a decider, which he won 7-5.

By the third set, the fight had drained out of Chardy, who made another 14 unforced errors to total 51 throughout the contest.

Ferrer cruised it 6-2 to set up a meeting with Germany's Florian Mayer for a place in the quarter-finals.